Whuntmore's Eagle Project - Flicker (Picture heavy!)

[Whuntmore]

Just a little background, I got the first eagle from Hemlokk here on the nest in mid August.  He had it as a daily driver, before it got T-boned.  We looked into fixing it, but there's too much damage for Pat (Mechanic) and I to take on.

http://forums.amceaglenest.com/index.php?topic=32775.0;all

Video here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0o2Izm3JVU

Now, I got the second one on Oct 1st.  This one has a pretty good body, but some 'bugs and issues' with it - The biggest one is intermitted electrical problems, possibly from an old radio install, and removal.  Otherwise she's in pretty good shape.



More here:  http://forums.amceaglenest.com/index.php?topic=33207.0

So, between Pat and I, and the work ahead of us, we've decided that Hemlokk's former eagle will be taken over by Pat and turned into a bush buggy - as we don't want it to go to the crusher. 

So Since there's not much I can do to Hemlokk's eagle, I've started working on my newest one.  Pat's place is about 35-40 minutes drive down the highway from my place, and I can't get down there every day.  (my apt complex doesn't allow this type of work being done in the parking lot).  So, when I can get down there, I work on her.

First, I've taken the dash off, and found a few issues.  One being an old noise eliminator that was badly spliced in.  That's now in the trash, and the splice fixed.  There's a few other small wiring issues and with the dash off, it gives me the chance to replace all the bulbs I can, and fix any other broken items - My rear defogger button for one.

When I took the dash apart, I mostly shot videos so I could record "What, went where."  I'll get some pictures.

So far, I've fixed the hood release - I replaced the broken button with a newer cable, and it seems to be doing good so far.

http://forums.amceaglenest.com/index.php?topic=33423.0

Once Pat (Mechanic) gets his jeep finished (we had to replace the tranny, and we got it in tonight), I can get my car into his garage, and we can get to work fixing the heavy stuff.  'Flicker' needs a better passenger half shaft, a non-feedback carb, new ball joints, some front end work, shocks, bit of body work, a new windshield, and a few other things. 

I'll post them as I go.

[IowaEagle]

I will be watching this interesting project.  Thanks for starting it.

[Whuntmore]

Since Pat lives a bit aways, and I can't be there whenever I want, I've realized I've got to plan to take some parts home that I can fix.  So yesterday as I'm working on the hood latch, I figure I'll take the grill off, and fix that at home.







Now, there are a few cracks in it, but besides the tab missing, it's not too serious.  So I've started sanding, and I realized I need some more sandpaper!  I'll have to get more today.  I got this far



Now, I'm not totally sure what to use to fix the grill with, but if I get short hair fibreglass body fill, and if I get fiberglass mat to re-enforce the cracks, that should work pretty good.  I get the feeling I could fix headlight buckets with that stuff if I was keen on sanding.

[duane2171]

Hey Jared!!  Flicker is such a cool name!!  Can't wait to see you on the road!

[Whuntmore]

Thanks Duane, after I came up with the name 'Flicker', for the new eagle, I then thought of 'Boner' for the T-boned one!       

[IowaEagle]

I wonder if more cracks will develop?  The grille almost appears to be disintegrating.

[Whuntmore]

From what I understand, the grill is made from ABS plastic.  I found a website that has some videos and some instructions on how to fix/repair this type of plastic.  It does involve some plastic welding, and some resins for the different types of plastics on cars.  Like plastic bumpers, and some grilles, fenders for ATV's, etc.

I'll have to do more research.  makes me almost want to repair it enough to use it to make a mold, and then do it in fiberglass...

[maximus7001]

I would use JB weld or a similar product like the one that permatex makes called cold welding compound.

[thereverendbill]

I would just put some superglue on the non visible sides of the cracks to keep everything together until you have a  chance to replace it or fix it

[Whuntmore]

Thanks folks,  I did find an expoxy that seems to hold it together pretty well.  I'll use that until I find something I can fill holes with.

[Whuntmore]

Well, I wanted to see how easy 'plastic welding' was, so I went to Can. Tire, and got the cheapest piece of plastic ABS I could find, and taking my trusty soldering iron



I started welding the split.  it actually went really well.  First I clamped the piece with a hemostat, and then started melting holes to bond them together.



Then I started adding melted ABS to the section, and I did cross-hatch melts to bond everything together.



Then, once I had melted alot together, and the overlap was really good



I started sanding it down to make it look better.  You can see by the swirls, how much I mixed and melted the plastic together.



Now that the cracks are glued, and the broken piece is welded, it's all back together.  Now my sanding isn't perfect, but it looks pretty good.  The strength is there, it's got flex, but it doesn't seem to want to break.  I'll see when I bolt it back on.




So right now, it's outside drying.  All I have is gloss black paint.  I really wanted either satin, or flat black.  I'll look for some later.

[shaggimo]

That's pretty cool, looks like it worked very well! 

[IowaEagle]

Looks good to me.  And, the raisins were used for ....................

[Whuntmore]

LOLOL, my wife's lunches!  yummy 

[Teamamc]

Try some of the fusion paint. It will actually bond with the plastic.

I use the rapid fix to repair my grills.

http://rapid-fix-glue.com/

$42.00 for the kit but it works incredible. check out the link